It seems Alexis Saelemaekers will move into a new role this season, with the right-wing back slot being taken by another converted winger.
During pre-season, Saelemaekers hasn’t been as regularly used as some may have expected. For a majority of last season – if not the entirety of the season – he was one of the first names in Massimiliano Allegri’s team.
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However, it seems Ruben Amorim sees a different role for him, both in terms of the hierarchy and his actual position.
We’re yet to really see what he has in store for the Belgian, but the signing of Diego Moreira would suggest that the wing-back slots are pretty full. So, he may return further up the field. For the first time in a while, there are questions about the Belgian who was such a certainty 12 months ago.
Saelemaekers’ new role
In an editorial piece for MilanNews, Pietro Mazzara looked at how Saelemaekers role will change this season after Allegri’s usage of him at wing-back.
“After years spent running on the wings, the summer of change has arrived for Alexis Saelemaekers. Because Ruben Amorim doesn’t see him primarily in the right-back position, which, at the start of the year, we all identified as his natural position.
“He sees him further forward, behind the striker, in the attacking midfield. And if you’re about to say, “How is that possible?”, the answer lies in the long and careful observation that Amorim himself and his staff have made in recent weeks.
“The reason for this change in position lies in Alexis’s nature. Saelemaekers is a player who greatly enjoys cutting inside, playing with his teammates, and attacking the penalty area rather than dropping to the byline and firing in crosses.
“We’ve seen this over the years with AC Milan, but also in his stints at Bologna and Roma, where he provided 29 assists (in all competitions) for 27 goals (again using the same metric).
“Last year, under Allegri, Alexis had also favored closing down the post from the opposite flank, as well as constantly seeking out space inside when the coach would have preferred more width.
“This is why Amorim decided to use him there, in one of the two slots behind Gonçalo Ramos, precisely to try to send him into areas where he seems more comfortable.
|Furthermore, it’s tempting to think that with Samuel Chukwueze’s move to the full-back role, Saelemaekers’ possible starting role as a three-quarter back could also be a way to “cover” Chukwu’s potential defensive shortcomings and the coverage Mario Gila would provide.
“Amorim has a lot of faith in Saelemaekers, and this role change could be the key to this stage of his career, not to mention his versatility in being able to return to the full-back role, both on the right and left.
Interesting. Can’t see Salad behind the striker, the dude can’t shoot very well. I’m assuming we’re depending on the AM to score goals as well as assists in this system. I feel like Saelemaekers has been on the verge of leaving Milan a couple of times and each time a new coach has saved him. If he doesn’t produce well this season I think we can expect a sale in 2027.
Can’t shoot and also isn’t great in tight spaces with the ball at his feet. He makes a lot of bad decisions in those situations.
You are both right about his offensive skills but I have a feeling his work rate and off the ball movement play a huge part in how Amorim sees him.
In a high pressing system, the AM position is critical for the shape of the team and someone like Saelemaekers would certainly offer more playing there than Leao or Cisse.
Saelemaekers played as a second forward last year more than once and from what I recall we had pretty good results in those games.
That being said, I still think he’ll be more useful as RWB, especially against stronger sides. If we put Chukwueze against Dimarco for example, it won’t end well.
He is great in tight spaces with the ball at his feet, what are your talking about? That’s almost the single-best thing he is good at. But yes, decisions have improved a lot, but still below elite level. Shooting has improved a lot too, but still need to be a lot more ruthless.
Yeah, dribbling and off ball movement are his top qualities. Somewhat ironically he’s not the best defender other than having a high work rate
If Saelemaekers will be the centre of Amorims Milan we will be doomed. We had to get rid of Saelemaekers and Chuwueze a long time ago.
I believe he does have the close control to operate inside but, Why move on from Athekame if this is part of the plan?
Sometimes, I wonder where all these writers get their ideas from. Steelmaker is one of the reasons why our midfield has no creativity. He would do all the running,with some casual and sporadic dribbling but after all, the end product would be zero. If truly he is at the centre of our project, then we have a big problem .I will be glad if he can prove me wrong though.
👏👏👍
so another wingback and a CAM?
Alexis 3rd choice
RLC 4th
Cisse 5th
He has a lot of good qualities, the one I haven’t seen much of is short passes to teammates. He seems to put his head down and not see other options. A good manager can certainly improve on this skill.
Right back wing, right attacker is needed , creativity midfielders as a starter , this squad is not satisfied enough….
all of our wingbacks are left footed now: Barte, Chukwueze, Moreira
Salemakers very nervos player and play bad all time.
I will sell him,he make mistakes.
Soon or late we will see how much he will costs us results
Rubbish take.
He’s no where near the centre of Amorim’s project.
He definitely CANNOT be a solid pick for the AM role. Occasional substitute, yes.
If we go through the season with fking Saelemaekers and Rabiot/RLC as our forwards just end it now
Too bad of a defender to be a RB and too bad of an attacker to be a RW. He definitely isn’t good enough to play there. RBW is made for players like him, with not enough skill to be a more defensive or attacking player.
Terrible idea. Zero end product. How long until Amorim realizes?
They shipped out the only guy that could put in a good cross from the right. Now we have Chuku who can’t defend and AS56 to figure out what to do with altogether.
Salemaekers will do just fine. Good player. just use him in the right space at the right time.
You can’t be ‘centre of the project’ when you’re average at everything apart from work-rate.
Might as well pack up go home if that’s the plan…
Reading this i am assuming the coach wants to provide cover on the right flank. Having Sala playing AMC oin the right and Chuku as RWB they can alternate and provide proper cover to each other. Sala has work nrate yes and if they find a smart way to interchange during games it could be a proper funtioning rotation between AMCR and RWB. during defensive phases of the game they can double down on the right wing and offensively too. Interesting views from the coach. could work out better this way.
The left is sorted with moriera i believe, he can do alot and just needs to get an understandinging with his LCB and LAMC then things will balance out the same.
hope this really works out.
Amorim tactical mindset is that he wants a playmaker with a “pressing engine.” Saelemaekers gives the team first line of defense a tenacity when out of possession, compensating for the defensive shortcomings of the out and out wingers. This clever use of flexibility to move the Belgian into central positions saves Milan an additional €30 million on a ready made playmaker. Amorim demonstrates an understanding of his players strengths, which is commendable in my opinion.